Beechcraft S35 N6861Q

Summary

On 8 October 2013 at about 13:00 local time, a Beechcraft S35 registered N6861Q was involved in an accident near Brownwood, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 October 2013 at 13:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Brownwood, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Brownwood Regional Airport (BWD)

Coordinates

31.7119, -98.9861

Aircraft

Beechcraft S35

Registration

N6861Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Coleman → Brownwood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA002

1 person was seriously injured.

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from a foreign material in the fuel system blocking the fuel flow to the engine. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was making a straight-in approach to land when the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently impacted trees, cacti, and terrain during the attempted off-airport landing, and a postimpact fire ensued, which destroyed the fuselage. The pilot sustained second- and third-degree burns, but he was able to extricate himself from the wreckage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that foreign material was present on the fuel pump vanes, the fuel manifold, and the fuel metering unit inlet screen; this material would have blocked the fuel flow to the engine. No other anomalies were noted that would have prevented normal operation of the engine. The foreign material closely matched polyester, but the source of the material could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.